Monday, August 20, 2018

The Lengkuas Cafe @ Argyll Road, Georgetown, Penang.

Conveniently tucked away from the bustling Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah, The Lengkuas Cafe is a great option for Muslim diners; the newly opened cafe is manned by a local Malay family. Safe in the knowledge that their offering is Halal and Muslim-friendly. The place offers a Malay-influenced menu, featuring an array of local Malay delights. Expect to see some Nasi dishes, Assam Laksa and some Noodles but the real draw is the sweet treats... available in the form of traditional Malay desserts or Western cakes. Nothing to shout over for the interior decor... basically pretty standard cafe setting but it's noteworthy that the prices are pretty wallet-friendly, considering the portion and such comfortable, fully air-conditioned environment. Find The Lengkuas Cafe at Argyll Road, adjacent to Livingstone Tower.

Famous Laksa Cik Umi (Rm 8.90)

Nasi Kacang (Rm 10.90)

Original Kuih Serabai (Rm 5.90)

Bubur Pisang (Rm 4.90)

The server introduced their Famous Laksa Cik Umi with aplomb so we decided to try it out. The serving was large and the soup was pretty thick (thicker than the usual Assam Laksa). But it had all the essential columns ticked- sour, savory, spicy and a hint of sweetness (from the Shrimp paste). The condiments were spot on either but if I had to comment, it would be the texture of the noodles... which I thought they could be a little springier. Equally delectable was the Nasi Kacang, a serving of oiled Rice with 2 types of curries. Amazing flavors but we were not over-whelmed by the dish.

We were new to Kuih Serabai, a type of Malay Kuih similar to the Chinese version of "Fatt Koh" or "Huat Kuih"... served with Gula Melaka syrup. Like its Chinese 'sibling', it has spongy yet fluffy texture and... a peculiar acidity. We were not quite fond of the dish but it was a good experience, especially to eat with Gula Melaka.